Husband is jailed for life. Can the wife marry another man?

[NOV25]

This interpretation sounds a lot like something that the Pharisees would say to get around the commandment not to divorce except for fornication.

I am curious whether there is any ancient of first century source data to back up the claim that that any Pharisee was justified in the court of the Pharisees by putting away his wife without a writing a divorcement and marrying another.

I think that if you look at context alone you will discover that this interpretation will not work. Context of Deut 21, Mal 2, and Matthew 19. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? It is impossible to make "put her away" mean something other than the writing of divorcement mentioned in that sentence.

Actually, that should be your first clue that put away does not mean divorce.
Why then did Moses command to give a writing of divorcement and to divorce her?
Doesn’t make much sense does it?

Jeremiah3:8
And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

I had divorced her and given her a bill of divorcement...

🤷‍♂️

The OT verses are Hebrew of course but you’ll notice the same thing. The put away and the divorce, two separate terms used in conjunction but never in place of.

Keriythuth: cutting up the matrimonial bond, divorce, writing of divorcement. Used 4 times in OT.

Shalach: send away, put away. Used 852 times in OT, never as divorce but always in conjunction with.

Deut. 24
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

This is a very interesting study, enjoy.

 

[CS1]

Husband is sentenced to 'life imprisonment'. Can the wife marry another man?
Bible does not allow a woman to marry another man while husband is still alive.
If so, should the wife live alone rest of her life while she is still young?

the choices we make have consequences. Yet, if her husband is unable to take care of her where is the action of the church in all this? She is a widow by default. Also this is not the 1800's. in many countries people incarcerated live productive live while being married, even have children. The Bible does not address prison but is does address the death of the husband or wife. Are they Christians is a very important question to ask. IF they are not they can do what ever they want because they are unregenerate. The sin of remarrying is kind of meaningless, due to the fact they are not saved. A Believer husband and wife also can choose can make a decision to move on. IF the husband say to the wife ' remarry with my blessing , I release you from this. The wife who chooses to stay God will help them through it. Sometimes we only look at the letter of the law but provide no support to the person(s).

 

[CS1]

Actually, that should be your first clue that put away does not mean divorce.
Why then did Moses command to give a writing of divorcement and to divorce her?
Doesn’t make much sense does it?

Jeremiah3:8
And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

I had divorced her and given her a bill of divorcement...

🤷‍♂️

The OT verses are Hebrew of course but you’ll notice the same thing. The put away and the divorce, two separate terms used in conjunction but never in place of.

Keriythuth: cutting up the matrimonial bond, divorce, writing of divorcement. Used 4 times in OT.

Shalach: send away, put away. Used 852 times in OT, never as divorce but always in conjunction with.

Deut. 24
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

This is a very interesting study, enjoy.

Moses command to give a written letter of divorcement because of the hardness of man's heart Jesus said that in Matthews

 

[Scribe]

Actually, that should be your first clue that put away does not mean divorce.
Why then did Moses command to give a writing of divorcement and to divorce her?
Doesn’t make much sense does it?

Jeremiah3:8
And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

I had divorced her and given her a bill of divorcement...

🤷‍♂️

The OT verses are Hebrew of course but you’ll notice the same thing. The put away and the divorce, two separate terms used in conjunction but never in place of.

Keriythuth: cutting up the matrimonial bond, divorce, writing of divorcement. Used 4 times in OT.

Shalach: send away, put away. Used 852 times in OT, never as divorce but always in conjunction with.

Deut. 24
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

This is a very interesting study, enjoy.

Your references support that putting away means divorce.

It is parallelism. Repetition but using different phrases to express additional details of the same thought. Divorce results in putting away, putting away always follows divorce.

Of course the Hebrew words for "putting away" would be different words than than the word for "divorce." They are different words in English as well.

"putting away" always means divorce. It is descriptive of the actions that follow the writing of the divorce.

That a writing of divorcement was required by the law was a given. I don't believe that this argument about the necessity of the writing of divorcement can be proven to be the point Jesus was trying to make. Jesus was not emphasizing that a written document was necessary in order to be innocent of the sin of adultery. This seems to be an attempted twist. The question presented to him was that of "any reason" and we have documentation in ancient literature that they argued over that. Do we have documentation of an argument over the necessity of a writing of divorce? Unless someone can present such a known argument going on among the Pharisees at the time they brought the question to Jesus then they have no authority to attempt this twist of the subject in question. Which was "can he divorce for any reason" (that was an argument we have documentation of in the rabbinical writings from the time of Christ)

 

[NOV25]

Your references support that putting away means divorce.

It is parallelism. Repetition but using different phrases to express additional details of the same thought. Divorce results in putting away, putting away always follows divorce.

Of course the Hebrew words for "putting away" would be different words than than the word for "divorce." They are different words in English as well.

"putting away" always means divorce. It is descriptive of the actions that follow the writing of the divorce.

That a writing of divorcement was required by the law was a given. I don't believe that this argument about the necessity of the writing of divorcement can be proven to be the point Jesus was trying to make. Jesus was not emphasizing that a written document was necessary in order to be innocent of the sin of adultery. This seems to be an attempted twist. The question presented to him was that of "any reason" and we have documentation in ancient literature that they argued over that. Do we have documentation of an argument over the necessity of a writing of divorce? Unless someone can present such a known argument going on among the Pharisees at the time they brought the question to Jesus then they have no authority to attempt this twist of the subject in question. Which was "can he divorce for any reason" (that was an argument we have documentation of in the rabbinical writings from the time of Christ)

I suggest a further study of the Greek and Hebrew on this topic, it’s clear by your responses you have not done so. Furthermore, responding to one who clearly has with allegations of manipulation is folly and makes evident the desire of your heart is to be “right” rather than know the truth.

 

[Lanolin]

well its up to both parties to sort out their marriage if one of them has a life sentence, obviously to obtain a divorce you need to have a good reason.

Talk to those in prison ministry and you might find that theres all sorts of 'crimwives' waiting for their husbands to get out of jail. Depends on what they are in for. I wouldnt expect someone who was in for something like child abuse and guilty would stay married, but there are all sorts of people who marry for many different reasons.

Ive known some wives who have stuck by their hsubands in jail, but they werent in there for life. Christians too.

 

[Lanolin]

an example, well its public knowledge so no harm in repeating it. we can learn from it.

Danielle Steel, famous US novelist, actually married two felons ...she was married about five times. One out of jail, one actually IN jail. The second time she married, she had a child with him. But he turned out to be a drug addict, and nothign she did would get him off, even when he was out of jail. . So she got custody of the child, who grew up with her but sadly, this son comitted suicide.

why did she marry, well it seems she was just the romantic kind of person who married anyone she thought she loved, While married, she would be faithful, but her her husbands would cheat on her. But thing is she married even though she knew two of these men had criminal records. one was a rapist and one addicted to heroin. eek.

 

[GraceAndTruth]

Divorce is permitted, remarriage is not. Mark 10:11-12 says that exactly. However, these are the "rules for Christians" so what the rest of the world does not surprise anyone, the rest of the world lives for it's own pleasures and we see the result of THAT attitude every day. The only other scriptures about this that come to my mind are the words about if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave, 1 Cor 7:15 Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace.

 

[SoulWeaver]

If he was in jail for preaching the Gospel then of course not. If he is in jail for murder he must suffer the consequences and part of that is that he would lose his wife. When Jesus said ....

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

The context was answering the question about divorcing for any reason. I don't think anyone needed to say... "What if he cooks small children and eats their livers with fava beans? Can she divorce him then?" They knew Jesus was not meaning that she would have to stay with such a monster as long as he did not commit fornication.

Sometimes people seem to be infected with the leaven of the Pharisees when they think that man was made for the Sabbath rather than the Sabbath for man. Consider what I say and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

I agree with your calling for discerning things. What if he abused or murdered their own children? What if he was falsely accused and imprisoned innocent (would not be the first time the investigators and prosecutors got the wrong man and ignored lack of evidence just to tick the case off or appease the public). I think matters like these need to be sorted in the view of love of God , rather than the law. But then again there are churches and pastors, who tell Christian women that they should endure violent domestic abuse until either her or husband dies, and that God wants them to let their husband beat them, often they end up murdered as violence gets worse. God's plan?

 

[Blade]

No offense to anyone for I am in this also.. for me this is like walking into some Church and asking the people sitting there. No clue who they are or their relationship with the lord. Talking to a pastor who knows the word or a good friend that knows the lord.

Asking to just ask... one could find a reason in the word that ITS OK to remarry or not. I know of a couple that the man was gay and married her just to marry her and after they were marred told her he was still gay and only liked men. Not long after that he left her. Now she told him she will always be waiting. Short is.. some won't like this but its true. He was going to take his life but a friend showed up (what are the odds) said "remember you said you would talk to this preacher". So he goes over that night and the pastor said "can we pray for you?" He said yes. The man said going on 20min into the prayer that he thought how shocked they will all be when they read in the paper tomorrow of his death. He said... going on 20min....it felt like something in side of him wanted out!

So after the prayer had him read a verse ever day and asked two men to watch over him and make sure he was still reading that verse every day. About 3 month in the two men knocked on the door and gay man would not let them in lol said YES I am still speaking that verse. So the next morning he woke up..his words. Every cell in his body wanted his wife. He had no desire for men .. it was gone. He called the pastor who called (I sill cry at this) the two guys and said "GET HIM TO HIS WIFE NOW!" haha..

She waited... and they are very happen and have many kids. Don't get lost in this true story. I just wanted to focus on how the wife.. could have remarried. What in her wanted to wait.. the love she had for him. She loved the lord. Never done for the reward but.. there is a greater reward here.

There is no condemnation...how great is our God..song playing. Not what other think believe or say.

 

[Kolistus]

If he was in jail for preaching the Gospel then of course not. If he is in jail for murder he must suffer the consequences and part of that is that he would lose his wife. When Jesus said ....

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

The context was answering the question about divorcing for any reason. I don't think anyone needed to say... "What if he cooks small children and eats their livers with fava beans? Can she divorce him then?" They knew Jesus was not meaning that she would have to stay with such a monster as long as he did not commit fornication.

Sometimes people seem to be infected with the leaven of the Pharisees when they think that man was made for the Sabbath rather than the Sabbath for man. Consider what I say and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

Good answer here.

I say this as a man, if I were to be doing a life sentence, first thing I would do is tell my wife: "Go and find someone else, I will rot here for the rest of my life, and I don't want you to waste life being married and not being able to enjoy marriage life."

 

[TheIndianGirl]

The decent thing to do is for the husband to initiate/grant the divorce. That seems to be the least selfish option.

 

[Scribe]

No offense to anyone for I am in this also.. for me this is like walking into some Church and asking the people sitting there. No clue who they are or their relationship with the lord. Talking to a pastor who knows the word or a good friend that knows the lord.

Asking to just ask... one could find a reason in the word that ITS OK to remarry or not. I know of a couple that the man was gay and married her just to marry her and after they were marred told her he was still gay and only liked men. Not long after that he left her. Now she told him she will always be waiting. Short is.. some won't like this but its true. He was going to take his life but a friend showed up (what are the odds) said "remember you said you would talk to this preacher". So he goes over that night and the pastor said "can we pray for you?" He said yes. The man said going on 20min into the prayer that he thought how shocked they will all be when they read in the paper tomorrow of his death. He said... going on 20min....it felt like something in side of him wanted out!

So after the prayer had him read a verse ever day and asked two men to watch over him and make sure he was still reading that verse every day. About 3 month in the two men knocked on the door and gay man would not let them in lol said YES I am still speaking that verse. So the next morning he woke up..his words. Every cell in his body wanted his wife. He had no desire for men .. it was gone. He called the pastor who called (I sill cry at this) the two guys and said "GET HIM TO HIS WIFE NOW!" haha..

She waited... and they are very happen and have many kids. Don't get lost in this true story. I just wanted to focus on how the wife.. could have remarried. What in her wanted to wait.. the love she had for him. She loved the lord. Never done for the reward but.. there is a greater reward here.

There is no condemnation...how great is our God..song playing. Not what other think believe or say.

And yet for those women who do choose to divorce and remarry and have lots of kids with someone else that is also a happy story. No woman should be made to feel that she took an easy out by divorcing when fornication is involved. They should not be pressured into thinking that forgiveness and taking the partner back is the "best" choice in God's eyes. I don't think that can be proven theologically. It may often be best to not take such a partner back. What does God think?

 

[Ahwatukee]

Husband is sentenced to 'life imprisonment'. Can the wife marry another man?
Bible does not allow a woman to marry another man while husband is still alive.
If so, should the wife live alone rest of her life while she is still young?

was or Is your husband a Christian?

I Corinthians 7 has some information regarding marital conditions:

 

[SoulWeaver]

Good answer here.

I say this as a man, if I were to be doing a life sentence, first thing I would do is tell my wife: "Go and find someone else, I will rot here for the rest of my life, and I don't want you to waste life being married and not being able to enjoy marriage life."

I know for sure my husband would've done the same as well if something like that happened, he'd want me to live happily and have zero guilt.
I don't believe I'd give him up though... I'm only not going to say "never" because God humbles "oh I'd never" people like He did Peter. And, I think people put way too much importance on how they spend life in this body. Life is going to pass. We're all going to be dead (in the way as we are now). We're going elsewhere. We have no power to hold or retain any happiness founded in this life or things in this world, marriage included, it's all fleeting.

 

[Kolistus]

I know for sure my husband would've done the same as well if something like that happened, he'd want me to live happily and have zero guilt.
I don't believe I'd give him up though... I'm only not going to say "never" because God humbles "oh I'd never" people like He did Peter. And, I think people put way too much importance on how they spend life in this body. Life is going to pass. We're all going to be dead (in the way as we are now). We're going elsewhere. We have no power to hold or retain any happiness founded in this life or things in this world, marriage included, it's all fleeting.

Wise words. No matter how good we got it here, it will not last.

 

[Lanolin]

is this hypothetical or actual.
If its actual then who can say, it depends on how much faith you have in each other...or in God. In the Bible when Peter was imprisoned the angels released him. There was an earthquake. I recall he had a wife.

 

[Benadam]

Any children

Husband is sentenced to 'life imprisonment'. Can the wife marry another man?
Bible does not allow a woman to marry another man while husband is still alive.
If so, should the wife live alone rest of her life while she is still young?

Do you and your husband have kids?
Did you two want kids when you exchanged vows?
Did you both understand the vows?

 

[CS1]

cheaper to keep her LOL

 

[wolfwint]

Husband is sentenced to 'life imprisonment'. Can the wife marry another man?
Bible does not allow a woman to marry another man while husband is still alive.
If so, should the wife live alone rest of her life while she is still young?

To say yes she can marry another man, is against the word of God. The word is clear, why this question?
This Kind of questions are called Situation Ethik. It means under certain conditions it is allowed to sin.